Cigar lighter



March 17, 1942. G. J. PISTEY CIGAR LIGHTER Filed May 25, 1938 INVENTOR 660/"6' Y Patented l7,

UNITED STA-TES- 2,276,867 CIGAR LIGHTER George J". Pistey, Bridgeport, Comm, assignor to Automatic Devices Comm, a corporation of Oonqecflc Corporation, Bridgeport,

Application May 25, lose-saw No. 209,883

15 claim.

This lmventlon relates to ciger lighters, and, more particularly, to the type of cigar lighter in which an lsmtlmg unlt is supported on s hololmg device to be removed therefrom for use after it has been brought to the desired hoot.

lin, prior clam lighters of this type, it been proposal open the circuit to the host element after the letter has been vbrought totloe llilsij, In con- 2mg out this operation, as heot-rosoomslvo contact has been associated with to second contact to complete the circuit the heot responslve' contest opening the olrcolt when the loeettlng element hos reached as usable hes-ft.

[to object of the present lnvemtloo is to pro vltle a; controlling clrcult for at booting element in which both; sides of the m e clt'cult. through which t o circuit is contyollcol memo viclell with heat sponslve contacts and thus losuto the opening of the circuit when the heating: elomeot has seoehecl the desired usable heat.

The igniting of the present lnventlon normally held in deep position in the holder and the circuit ls controlled by a bridging member carried. at the end of a, spring-pressed plunges slldobly mounted in the handle of the lmltlng unit.

When ll; ls desired to close the clrcuit, the finger place on the plunger is depressed until the bridging member engages the heat-responsive contacts and completes the circuit between the two contacts. Pa'eferebly, the contacts may be formed with latches thereon to hold the bridging member in position until the heat of the heating element causes them to flex and release the bridging member. However, should either of the contacts flex and move away from the bridglngmemloer, the circuit will be opened. This provloles two separate yellow in the ciscult at which the circuit can be opened when the heating element has reached its desired hoot.

A feature of tho'lnventlom resides in the reotime of the heot respomlve contacts "\wlth the hosting element, so that the contacts will be opes'otetl mode:- the most adverse conditions to open the clrcult. Y

Other foetuses also sclvcntsges wlll be appsrezoi'; from the specification ond claims when ins-lien ln connection with the accompanying drawing, in which."

Figure l ls a, longitudinal sectional View of the holder with post of the lgnltlz'ig omit broken away, showing the bridging member lo normal position Elg. 2 ts o, longitudinal sectional View of the holder and igniting unit with the bridging mem-- her in closed-circuit position.

Flg. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the contacts in released position and the bridging 5 memlzer in normal open-circuit position,

Flo. lis o sectional view taken along lime 2-41 of :2.

5 is fit slde elevation of the igniting unit. Foe Home cf the present invention com to prises a holoerlsszvlcg a tulwlor metal body removals-ls sugeportlug the of lighter one coat of the tubules lousy by as well ll.

:rreol form of the m has stsuol: out from v t o open t on" meal the heel: o T d or support and hole; t W against by of a oollm M throscleel cm the projectlzog omen eml of the holding; olevlce and moved lntc clamping engagement with the slashooorcl.

The holding devlce carries contacts which we 25 connected to a suitable source of energy, Where-= by the cigar lighter can be energized anal brought up to the desired best. In the illustrated form of the 'lnventlon, the closed encl ll of the tuballow holder is provided with a. central apeztvre m and carries a, resilient contact ll posltionecl tulleceot thereto and extending into the holding olevlce to he engaged by the igniting unit. shown in the drawing, the contact ll has a plurelity of projecting arms l8 provided with hookeal latches 98a at their outer ends. The contact is insulated from the holder by insulation H and is locked lm position by a bolt 2o passing throat-sh the centml portion oi the contact and extentlmzz 4w thcough and insole-ted from the operizore in "the rem" well in the casing nut El is om leclt and clamps the contact through medium of the head of the bolt against the sulotlon coverlmg the end wall l E The bolt also sewes as a means for connecting the contact to a source of energy, and has St connector lug 2212 positioned tlzereozo Whlcl'x is secured to a comouctozf 23 lesolng to one terminal of the lzatlyel'g or sourcaol on The connector lug ls lockeol so on bolt a not H1.

The ltolcllng device, helm secured to 85 clash loom-c3, of the automobile which is groumlocl is connected to other terminal of time somce energy through, the ammo; connection so that no the device includes e pair of contectsto be engaged by the igniting unit, one connected to each terminal of the source of energy.

The igniting unit of the present invention is adapted to be removably mounted on the holding device and includes an insulating sleeve 3| slidably engaging the walls of the holder and provided with reduced ends 32 and 33. A handle 34, of translucent material, is threaded on the reduced end 32 of the insulating sleeve, and a conducting cap 85, of conducting material, is threaded to the reduced end 33 of the sleeve, thus forming an enclosed hollow compartment within 1 itin unit. A l i eatin g element 38 is mounted on the end of the igniting unit opposite the handle so that it can be readily applied to a cigarette or the like in use. The heating element is disposed in a contact cup 31 and has one end electrically and mechanically secured thereto, while contact cup is insulatedly mounted on a reduced neck portion 35a of the conducting cap. The other end of the heating element is secured to a central stud 38 which extends through and is insulated from the contact cup and conducting cap and clamps the contact cup to the conducting cap.

The contact cup, being mounted on the reduced neck of the conducting cap, will be spaced therefrom and will form an annular recess behind the contact cup. When the igniting unit is positioned in the holding device, the contact arms 18 will engage the cup 31 and the hooked ends lfla of the contact arms will be disposed in the annular recess and will hold the igniting unit in deep position in the holding device, and will connect one end of the heating element to one terminal of the source of energy.

The other end of the heating element is connected to a heat-responsive contact 40. In the preferred form of the invention, the contact is mounted on the igniting unit and has a portion disposed under the head of the central stud 38 to be clamped in place thereby. A second heat-- responsive contact ll is mounted on the igniting unit in electrical engagement with the conducting cap which electrically connects it to the holding device and is insulated from the first contact and clamped in place by the central stud 38. These heat-responsive contacts are made preferably of bimetallic material and have their free ends extending in spaced relation into the hollow interior of the ignitin unit. If desired, the free ends of the contac s can be provided with latches l2 and 43 for a purpose to be described.

In the preferred form of the invention, the contacts are heated by heat transmitted from the heating element. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the conducting cap 35, insulating material 38 and contact cup 31 are provided with aligned apertures 44 opening on the heating element and portions of the heat-responsive contacts are placed in alignment with these apertures so that the heat transmitted from the heating element will readily operate the contacts.

In order to properly position the igniting unit on the holding device, a resilient stop 41 is struck inwardly from the holding device and is adapted to engage the front faceof the igniting unit to limit its inward movement. The stop device is so disposed that the contact cup of the igniting unit will be engaged by the contact latches Ila. These contacts will be held in good electrical contact with the contact cup by the action of the resilient stop which will give slightly when the igniting unit is moved into deep position and will move the igniting unit so as to maintain the connection. The action of the stop will be sufllcient to maintain this electrical engagement but will not cause the latches 18a to be released.

When the igniting unit is in this position, the conducting cap is engaged by a resilient contact finger l8 lanced from the housing engaging the conducting cap to insure a good electrical connection between the .holder and the conducting cap.

With the igniting unit in deep position on the holding device, a circuit will not be closed to energize the heating element, as a gap will exist between contacts 40, ll. The circuit will be completed from one terminal of the source of energy through the conductor 23, bolt 20, to contact l1, through the arms It, to the contact cup 31, through the heating element, to the central stud 38, through the central stud 38, and to the bimetallic contact 40, and from the other ter-' minal of the source of energy through the ground to the holder, through the contact finger 4B, conducting cap 35, to the contact 4 I. This leaves a gap in the circuit existing between the contacts 40 and H. I

The electrical circuit for the heating element can be readily controlled by bridging the gap between these two heat-responsive contacts by means of a bridging contact or the like. In the preferred form of the invention, the bridging of the gap is accomplished by providing the handle 34 with a central bore 5| and having suitable recesses 52 and 520 at the outer end thereof. A plunger 53, having a finger piece 54, preferably of insulating material, is slidably mounted in the bore with the finger piece sliding in the recess 52, and normally projecting beyond the surface of the handle so as to form a continuation of the contour of the handle. A spring 56 is disposed in the recess 52a and normally urges the plunger in the direction to project the finger piece. A stop shoulder 51 is disposed on the plunger and engages the inner surface of the handle to limit the outward movement thereof with respect to the handle.

The other end of the plunger carries a bridging. contact 58 which is so disposed within the handle of the igniting unit that it is spaced from the free ends of the contacts in the igniting unit, when the finger piece is projecting from the handle, as shown in Fig. 1. When the finger piece is pressed to the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein it is substantially flush with the end of the handle, the contact will be moved into engagement with the two heat-responsive contacts and close the gap therebetween to complete the circuit through the heating element by electrically connecting the two heat-responsive contacts.

Th bridging contact preferably is made circular so that it will, in all positions, bridge the gap between the contacts 40, 4|. This contact can be held in closed-circuit position as desired. In the preferred form of the invention, the latches l2 and 43, on the free ends of the bimetallic contacts, engage the bridging contact and hold it against outward movement under the urge of spring 58 until the heating element has reached the desired heat as determined by the heating of the contacts, at which time the contacts will flex to the position shown in Fig. 3 and release the bridging contact.

It is not necessary that the bridging contact be moved to open-circuit position to control the circuit through the heating element, as the cirto open the'circuit and release the bridging contact simultaneously, although the contact 40 is heated by heat conducted from the heating element by conduction through the central stud and by radiation and convection through the apertur in the igniting unit, while the contact 41 is heated only by heat transmitted from the heating element by radiation and convection.

With the contacts so related to the heating element, the control will operate satisfactorily under the most adverse conditions. If, for example, the apertures should become clogged up sothat heart could not be transmitted by radiation and convection from the heating element to the contacts, contact 40 will still be heated by heat conducted through the stud and will open the circuit before a dangerous temperature has been reached.' The contacts will also have a small amount of heat generated therein due to currentpassing therethrough and this will also aid in heating the contact 40 and opening the circuit.

The present invention, therefore, provides a simple controlling means, including two separate heat-responsive contacts, each of which is capable of opening the circuit to the heating element under the most adverse conditions when the latter has reached its predetermined usable heat.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the finger piece, in addition to serving for an actuator for the bridging contact, also indicates the position of the bridge and, consequently, will indicate whether or not the bridge is in closed-circuit position. In normal operation of the device,'when the finger piece is in the handle asshown in Fig. 2, the operator will know that the bridge is in closed-circuit position, and when it is projecting as in Fig. 3, he will know that it is in open-circuit position.

Not only will the indication of the condition of the circuit be made by the device of the present invention, but the condition of the heating element will also be indicated by the light passing through the apertures in the end wall of the igniting unit, causing the translucent knob to glow when the heating element has reached a desired incandescence.

After the user of the device receives the indication, either by the position of the finger piece or by the glow of the handle, that the heating element is ready for use, he merely pulls the igniting unit outwardly of the holding device, whereupon the latches We will be released. The igniting unit can then be removed from the holding device and used as desired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An igniting unit for an electrical cigar lighter adapted to be removabiy carried by a holding device comprising a body; a heating element carried by the body, said body being hollow and having passages in the wall thereof connnunicatihg with the heating element; a circult ior energizing the heating element including a pair ofspaced heat-responsive contacts insulated from one another mounted in the interior 01' the body; and a bridging member movable to close the gap between the heat-responsive contacts, the contactsoperating when theheating element has been brought to the desired-heat to automatically open the circuit through the heating element at the bridging member.

2. An igniting unit for an electrical cigar lighter adapted to be removably carried by a holding device comprising a body; a heating element carried by the body, said body having apertures disposed adjacent the heating element; a circuit for energizing the heating element including a pair of spaced heat-responsive contacts insulated from one another and positioned in alignment with the apertures; and a bridging member movable to close the gap between the heat-responsive contacts, the contacts operating when the heating element has been brought to the desired heat to automatically,

open the circuit through theheating element at the bridging member.

A holding device and including a hollow body; a

heating element carried by the body, said body having apertures disposed adjacent the heating element; a circuit for energizing the heating element including a pair of spaced bimetallic latch I contacts mounted within the hollow body and insulated from one another and positioned with a portion thereof in alignment with the apertures. in the body; and a bridging member mounted on the body and movable to close the gap between the bimetallic latch contacts and normally urged to open-circuit position, the latchcontacts holding the circuit closed and flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired heat to automatically open the circuit through the heating element at the bridging member.

4. An igniting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device and completely removable therefrom for. use including a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a circuit for energizing the heating element, including a pair of bimetallic contacts carried by the igniting unit and insulated from one another and having spaced free ends; and a bridging member movable into engagement with the free ends to close the gap between the free ends of the bimetallic contacts, the contacts flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired heat to automatically open the circuit through the heating element at the bridging member.

5. An igniting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device and completely removable thereirom for use including a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a circuit for energizing the heating element, including a pair of bimetallic contacts'on the igniting unit insulated from one another and having spaced free ends provided with latches; and a bridging member movable V into engagement with the free ends'tc be enstaged by the latches and to close the gap between the free ends of the bimetallic contacts, the contacts flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired heat to automatically release the latches and to open the circuit through the heating element at the bridging member.

6. An iwiting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device and completely removable therefrom for use including a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a circuit for energizing the heating element, including a pair of bimetal-= lic contacts on the igniting unit insulated from one another and having spaced iree ends; and a bridging member movable into engagement with the free ends to close the gap between the free ends 01 the bimetallic contacts, the contacts flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired heat to automatically openthe circuit through th heating element at the bridging member, one of said bimetallic contacts being connected to the heating element to be partially heated by conduction.

7. An igniting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device and completely removable therefrom for use including a heating element carried by the igniting a circuit ior energizing the heating element, including a pair of bimetallic contacts insulated from one another and having spaced free ends; and a bridging rnember'mov able into engagement with the free ends to close the gap between the free ends of th bimetallic contacts, the contacts flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired heat to automatically open the circuit through the heat ing element at the bridging member, one of the bimetallic contacts receiving heat from the licating element by conduction, radiation and convection, and the other bimetallic contact receiving heat from the heating element by radiation and convection.

8. An igniting unit as defined in claim 4, comprising a handle, and a plunger carried by the handle for moving said bridging member into engagement with the free ends of the bimetallic contacts.

9. An igniting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device having spaced contacts thereon insulated from one another, said igniting unit having a heating element thereon having a contact connected to one end thereof adapted to engage one of the said contacts on the holding device; a second contact carried by the igniting unit and insulated from the heating element and the contact thereon and adapted to engage the 2 other said contact on the holding device, the igniting unit being hollow and having apertures in the wall thereof adjacent the heating element; a bimetallic contact electrically connected to the other end of the heating element; a second bimetallic contact mounted on the igniting unit insulated from and in spaced relation with the first bimetallic contact and electrically. connected to the second contact, the bimetallic contacts being positioned in alignment with the openings in the igniting unit; and a bridging member movable into engagement with the two bimetallic contacts to close an energizing circuit through the heating element, the bimetallic contacts flexing when the heating element has reached the desired usable heat to open the circuit at the bridging member.

10. An igniting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device having spaced contacts thereon insulated from one another, said igniting unit having a heating element thereon having a contact connected to one end thereof adapted to engage one of the contacts on the holding device; a second contact carried by the igniting unit and insulated from the heating element and the contact thereon and adapted to engage the other of said contacts on the holding device; a bimetallic contact having a free end provided with a latch electrically connected to the other end of the heating element; a second bimetallic contact having a free end provided with a latch mounted on the igniting unitand insulated from and in spaced relation with the first bimetallic contact and electrically connected to the second contact; and a bridging member movable into engagement with the free ends or the two bi metallic contacts to close an energizing circuit through the heating element, the bimetallic contacts latching the bridge in closed-circuit position and flexing when the heating element has reached the desired usable heat to open the circult at the bridging member.

ll. An igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and including a heating element; a contact connected to one end oi the heating element and adapted to engage a holding device contact; a bimetallic contact electrically connected to the other end of the heating element; a second bimetallic contact mounted on the igniting unit and insulated from and in spaced relation with the first bimetallic contact and electrically connected to the second holding device contact, said bimetallic contacts being in heat-receiving relation with the heating element; and a bridging member movable into engagement with the two bimetallic contacts to close an energizing circuit through the heating element, the bimetallic contacts flexing when the heating element has reached the desired usable heat to open the circuit at the bridging member, one of said bimetallic contacts being connected to the heating element to be partially heated therefrom by conduction.

12. An igniting unit adapted to be removab'iy mounted on a holding device and having a heating element thereon provided with a contact connected to one end thereof and adapted to engage a holding device contact for connecting one end of the heating element to one terminal of the source of energy; a bimetallic contact electrically connected to the other end of the heating element; a second bimetallic contact mounted on the igniting unit and insulated from and in spaced relation with the first bimetallic contact and electrically connected to another holding device contact; and a bridging member movable into engagement with the two bimetallic contacts to close an energizing circuit through the heating element, the bimetallic contacts flexing when the heating element has reached the desired usable heat to open the circuit at the bridging member, the first bimetallic contact receiving heat from the heating element by conduction,

radiation and convection, and the second bimetallic contact receiving heat from the heating element by radiation and convection.

13. An igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on the holding device having spaced insulated contacts thereon, said igniting unit having a handle at one end and a heating element at the other end, said heating element having the contact connected to one end thereof for engaging one of the contacts of the holding de- Vice; 9. second contact carried by the igniting unit and insulated from the heating element and contact thereon for engaging the other holding device contact; a bimetallic contact hav .ing a free end provided with a latch electrically connected to the other end of the heating element; a second bimetallic contact having a free end provided with a latch mounted on the igniting unit and insulated from and in spaced relation with the first bimetallic contact and eleci trically connected to the second contact of the igniting unit; a bridging member; a manually operated plunger mounted in the handle of the igniting unit and connected to the bridg'ng memr 2,276,867 her, said plunger projecting from the handle for manual engagement for moving the bridging member into engagement with the free ends of two bimeta c contacts to close an energizing circuit me heating element; and a spring normally urgiug the plunger to move the bridging contact into or .-circuit position, the bimetallic latches engaging the bridging contact in closedcircuit position and flexing when the heating element att ins a desired usable heat, whereupon the brie ing s her is moved by the spring into an open-circuit position wherein the circuit cannot be reclosed until the plunger is again manu ally operated.

'14. In electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to mounted on a holding device and completely removable tl'ierefrorn for use; a heating element ied by the igniting unit, an energizing circuit for the heating element, including a bimetallic contact on theigniting unit connected to one terminal of said heating element; a second bimetallic contact on the igniting unit insulated from contact and connected to a source of current, said contacts having spaced free ends; a bridging member on the igniting unit movable into engagement with the free ends or" said contacts to close the circuit from said source of current to said. heating element, each of said contacts being in good heat-exchange relation with the heating element, and flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired temperature to automatically open the circuit through the heating element at the bridging member.

15. In an electric cigar lighter having an igniting unit provided with a heating element and an energizing circuit therefor, including a bimetallic contact carried by the heating element and electrically connected to one terminal of said heating element; a second bimetallic contact on the igniting unit and insulated from the first contact and connected to a source of current, said contacts having spaced free ends; a bridging memher on the unit movable into engagement with. the free ends of said contacts to close the circuit from said source of current to said heating .element; means normally urging said bridging mernher out of engagement from said contact; and latch means on the ends of the said contacts for retaining the bridging member in circuitclosing engagement therewith, in opposition to said urging means; each of said contacts flexing when the heating element has been brought to the desired temperature to automatically open the circuit through the heating element at the bridging member and to release the bridging member from said latch means upon fiexure of said contacts, whereby the urging means returns said member to open-circuit position.

GEORGE J. -PI STEY. 

